(Ecofin Agency) - Twenty-seven petrol stations have been shut down in Kenya as the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) enforce restrictions on the sale of mixed fuel.

According to ERC, the stations were either caught for selling fuel mixed with kerosene or for averting fuels intended for export to the local market.

Diverting exports products into the local market causes loss of revenue in unpaid taxes. Then again, petrol adulteration intensifies the risk engine knockout.

The Director-General of ERC, Joe Ng'ang'a (photo), noted that the stations targeted were part of the 1,493 petroleum outlets whose products had been tested for quality.

“As we have indicated, the measures the commission and other State agencies, largely security officials, have implemented to protect consumers from deceitful practices, are paying off. A total of 8,945 tests were carried out in 1,493 petroleum outlets to single out traders who have not complied. At least 96.2 per cent of petroleum outlets tested had complied with only 56 stations recording non-compliance,” Ng'ang'a told Daily Nation.

The stations that was shut down have been asked to pay taxes and penalties to the Kenya Revenue Authority and will also have to filter their fuels before selling them to the public.

Anita Fatunji